Sen. Susan Collins announced Tuesday that she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general, narrowing his margin for getting confirmed.
Ms. Collins, Maine Republican, said Mr. Blanche, currently the deputy attorney general and serving as acting head of the Justice Department since the ouster of Pam Bondi, is a “capable lawyer” but has failed to protect DOJ’s independence.
She pointed to what she called “increasingly political” decisions such as his sign-off on a deal to grant immunity to President Trump for past tax problems and to establish the $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund.”
She also cited his attempt to prosecute two sitting Democratic senators over videos encouraging active-duty troops to ignore unlawful orders, and his promise to a pro-life group to work to prohibit delivery of the abortion drug mifepristone by mail.
“For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination,” she said.
Without her, and with the ongoing absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Republicans can stand to lose just one other senator if they hope to overcome total opposition from Democrats and get Mr. Blanche confirmed.
Several other Republicans have yet to express their intentions.
Ms. Collins is locked in a tight reelection battle in blue-tilted Maine. Her vote against a high-profile Trump pick could boost her credentials in the state, though it will be stacked up against her support for past Trump picks, including Supreme Court nominees and controversial Cabinet picks.
